If knowledge is power, why........

[Aslan]

wel, if you two would come out of the closet and give me some props…it'd be appreciated.

[Amyers]

wel, if you two would come out of the closet and give me some props…it'd be appreciated.

That's one closet I'm staying away from

[vdubtx]

All this talk of coming out of the closet and props has me worried as to where this thread is headed. LOL.

[classygranny]

Don't worry Vdubtx...It's just a GIFT.

[Aslan]

I forgot to ask Iceman…is it still a gift if they wear a wrist positioner?? What if the wrist positioner was an actual "gift"??

I'll leave the closet and wrist positions conversation alone.

[Hampe]

220 on a home THS =/= 220 on an unfamiliar sport shot.

Hell, it doesn't even have to be a sport shot. One center's THS =/= another center's THS. And apart from just the pattern on the lane, a lot of factors are in play when talking about scoring potential of a bowling center. How well the lane is maintained, how well the oil machine is maintained, how well the backends are cleaned, even the age of the pins makes a difference. Setting some arbitrary number like 220 is a bit pointless, since 220 in one center is not the same as another. Does that mean nobody at the other center has the "gift"?

I've played in a bunch of centers where I'm sure I could average somewhere around 220 if I played a league there.....last year in the company league I played in, not ONE person averaged 220 (there hasn't been a 300 game in over 2 years in that center). And some of the guys here play in the German national league and can easily put up 220+ when they play in tournaments elsewhere. Do they have the "gift" or not?

I think we've pretty much reached a consensus that Iceman is wrong . The "gift" he is talking about is basically just superior/eye hand coordination. Some people have natural ability, some don't (we've all met those people who just seem to be good at everything). BUT, I've still never heard of anyone picking up a bowling ball and averaging 220 in a few years just through natural talent alone. Iceman likes to talk about the big hitters in his area that "never practice" and "have never been coached", but I'm curious...how many of those guys "don't practice", but have been playing in 5 leagues a week for 20-30 years? If I remember correctly, Jason, Iceman's glorious example of "the gift" was also a pretty good youth bowler back in the day. How much coaching did he receive then? (I'd guess at least some). Just because somebody doesn't currently see a coach or practice, doesn't mean they never have.

Nobody around here that I know of has ever won a tournament without a lot of practice and some coaching at some point in their lives.

[rv driver]

I forgot to ask Iceman…is it still a gift if they wear a wrist positioner?? What if the wrist positioner was an actual "gift"??

I'll leave the closet and wrist positions conversation alone.

Some people are probably so blessed with The Gift that they don't even need a ball. The pins just sort of swoon in abject adoration as The Gifted One walks past.

[Hampe]

Some people are probably so blessed with The Gift that they don't even need a ball. The pins just sort of swoon in abject adoration as The Gifted One walks past.

Hey! I think I've got that! Sometimes when it's my turn, the pins will just fall over by themselves after being put down and have to be reset. I must be "gifted"

[MICHAEL]

Hell, it doesn't even have to be a sport shot. One center's THS =/= another center's THS. And apart from just the pattern on the lane, a lot of factors are in play when talking about scoring potential of a bowling center. How well the lane is maintained, how well the oil machine is maintained, how well the backends are cleaned, even the age of the pins makes a difference. Setting some arbitrary number like 220 is a bit pointless, since 220 in one center is not the same as another. Does that mean nobody at the other center has the "gift"?

It's not arbitrary,,, GOD says so in the bible,,, 30:32! And God said, a 220 bowler and above will be my gifted ones!!


I've played in a bunch of centers where I'm sure I could average somewhere around 220 if I played a league there.....last year in the company league I played in, not ONE person averaged 220 (there hasn't been a 300 game in over 2 years in that center). And some of the guys here play in the German national league and can easily put up 220+ when they play in tournaments elsewhere. Do they have the "gift" or not?

Maybe you could,,,,, maybe you couldn't! LOL Maybe because there were NO GIFTED bowlers there. I bet 1000.00 bucks a gifted bowler like
JASON the Dude could figure them out, or my other friend Pat, (hall of famer, Henderson)! Could be just a bunch of non Gifted blowers.
Hey,,, most of us are!! maybe the ones you played GOOD AT were GOOD THAT day on THOSE particular lanes, with THAT particular oil on that particular humidity , and temperature???? A league lasts for many months... ( A truly Gifted bowler ADJUSTS!! He can make Gold out of Iron!


I think we've pretty much reached a consensus that Iceman is wrong . The "gift" he is talking about is basically just superior/eye hand coordination. Some people have natural ability, some don't (we've all met those people who just seem to be good at everything). BUT, I've still never heard of anyone picking up a bowling ball and averaging 220 in a few years just through natural talent alone.

I HAVE,,, here in the United States of America!!! I know off hand at least 1 manybe more that did just that... ( but he was gifted IMHA)!

Iceman likes to talk about the big hitters in his area that "never practice" and "have never been coached", but I'm curious...how many of those guys "don't practice", but have been playing in 5 leagues a week for 20-30 years? If I remember correctly, Jason, Iceman's glorious example of "the gift" was also a pretty good youth bowler back in the day. How much coaching did he receive then? (I'd guess at least some). Just because somebody doesn't currently see a coach or practice, doesn't mean they never have.

Jason, and maybe Pat Henderson, both strong 220 and up average bowlers, on THS, might have had some coaching in their early years! I will ask, but usually a high school coach in bowling, (if they did have one, was usually a English Teacher making some extra money on the side coaching a sport they knew nothing about LOL) I will ask both of them if THE GIFT was there from the START!


Nobody around here that I know of has ever won a tournament without a lot of practice and some coaching at some point in their lives.

I NEVER SAID that practice and coaching is a bad THING!! GEEEEEE..... do you read my posts??? But if you don't have the Gift, there is only so far you will ever go! On the contrary,,,,,, COACHING and Practice is always a good thing! I hope you make that 220 that's in the Bible while I am still alive! I know your working hard, and want to be the best you can be. Some people with the Gift, find out later then OTHERS,,,
YOU MIGHT HAVE it, and its just waiting to get out, but its not TIME YET!

[MICHAEL]

Lol....Iceman, the answer to your question is already in the post you qouted.....

"There is a different skill set involved in coaching than in bowling. "

And it's true....knowing the intricacies of HOW to do something is not the same as being able to do it yourself.

I think anybody that worked hard enough at it can get to 220+ average. Some people it will take much longer than others, maybe more time than they are able or willing to invest, but it should still be possible.

I agree SOME,,, SOME people with hard work CAN,,,, NOT MOST!